Acetylene-gas-generating apparatus.



No. 784,051. PATENTED MAR. 711905. -W. B. JONES.

AGETYLENE GAS GENERATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.17, 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Mix warm PATENTED MAR. 7, 1905.

W. B. JONES. AGE'I'YLENE GAS GENERATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 17, 1903.

4 SHBETBBEBET 2.

\. 1 L N. G W\ MN M J No. 784,051. PATEN'I'ED MAR. 7, 1905. W. B. JONES.

AGE'I'YLENE GAS GENERATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 17, 1903 4 8HEET8-BHEET 3.

ml (I 1 r l PATENTED MAR. 7, 1905.

W. B. JONES.

AGETYLENE GAS GENERATING APPARATUS.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 17, 1903.

4 SHEBTSSHEBT 4.

[/7149/7/0/ MEG/001% previously described.

NTTED STATES PATENT Patented March 7/, i905.

tries.

WALLACE B. JONES, ()F BURROAK, KANSAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,051, dated March 7, 19055.

Application filed November 17,1903. Serial No. 181,559.

To (bl/Z whom, if, many concern.-

Be it known that 1. VVALLAon B. JoNns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Burroak, in the county of Jewell and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AcetyleneGas-iienerating Apparatus, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to acetylene-gas-gcncratingapparatus, and has for its object to produce an apparatus of this character which operates efficiently and reliably, which can be thoroughly and easily cleansed, and which is of simple, strong, durable, and comparatively inexpensive construction.

With these objects in view and others, as hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and organization, as hereinafter described and claimed, and in order that it may be fully understood reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view'o'f an acetylenegas-generating apparatus embodying my invention, the gas-generator being preferably disposed below the flooring. Fig. 2 is a view partly in central vertical section to show the construction of the carbid-cnp-carrying wheel and its relation to the generator, the only portion of the latter appearing being that which projects above the flooring. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of the generator on line I11 111 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4C is a horizontal section of the generator on line 1V IV of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 .is an enlarged detail perspective view of a portion of the skeleton basket which receives the carbid from the supplypipe, said figure also showing the frame of said basket as equipped with piping and pro vided with branch pipes for the purpose of dislodging carbid ashes from the bottom of the generator. section taken on the line VI VI of Fig. 4 and showing the bell in its depressed position. Fig. 7 is a vertical section of one of the carbid-cups, said cup being shown of a greatly magnified scale as compared with the figures Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of one of the carbid-cups. Fig.

Fig. 6 is a central vertical.

end of the gas-bell tube through which the gas passes to the service-pipe, said ligurc also showing the cap which closes the upper end of said tube and contiguous parts. Fig. .10

an enlarged cross-section of one of the gasbell tubes and the tube litting telescopically therein;

Referring lirst to the generator, 1 designates its body portion, preferably cylindrical, and having a substantially cone-shaped bottom 2, with its apex disposed eccentrically ol? its center and communicating with pipe 3, adapted to act as a water supply or discharge pipe for the generator.

4 designates a smaller cylinder litting concentrically within the body portion and having its lower end flaring outwardly, as at 5, and secured to the body, so as to provide a deflector to guide the gas into the gas-bell 7, adapted to rise within the body as the volume of gas generated increases and to descend as the volume of gas decreases. This bell provided with a conical partition s in its upper end, on the lower or hollow sideot which the gas is compressed as the bell descends, while above said partition is formed an airchamber 9, which prevents the bell from being submerged in the water under any circumstances, it being understood that the body is lilled with water to the depth shown, or the water-level may be higher or lower, il desired, the conical valve it) normally engaging the orilice in the apex of the bottom serving to prevent the passage of water into pipe 3 unless the water-level rises above the predetermined heigl'lt, whatever that may be. The valve is attached to a vertical rod or stem ll,

linked at its upper end to a heat 12.

13 and M designate vertical tubes which are secured to the gas-bell and are of such length that their lower ends never become totally withdrawn from the water in the bod y.- 'lhese tubes are preferably externally threaded at their upper ends to receive the nuts [5 andv caps 16. the latter heremetically sealing the upper ends oi the tubes, and mounted upon and connecting said tubes between the caps and nuts is a cross-bar 17, provided with a central aperture 18 for a purpose which hereinafter appears. The tubes 13 and 1.4: lit telescopically over smaller tubes 19 and 20 and are provided with suitable internal ribs 21 (see Fig. to bear against the inner tubes to properly guide the bell in its vertical reciprocation without interfering with the free circulation of gas between said pipes.

The tubes 19 are secured, respectively, in cross-couplings 22 23, carried at the outer ends of pipes 25, radiating from the central cross-coupling 26. Said couplings surmount short vertical pipes 27, rising from .T-couplings 28, and the pipes 29, secured in any suitable manner at their outer ends to the body and at their inner ends to the cross-coupling 30. These radiating pipes and couplings constituteskeleton frames which brace and stiffen the generator, and the short vertical pipes 27 provide braces between the two skeleton frames. By preference the outer ends of pipes 25 and the upper ends of pipes 27 are plugged, as at 31, in order that gas passing down through pipes 19 and 20, as hereinafter explained, shall pass through couplings 22 and 23 to pipes 32 and 33 respectively, projecting outward from said couplings and externally of the body. Pipe 32 is connected to the cross-coupling 34, and the latter is connected by the pipe 35 to meter 36, and to the latter is connected by pipe 37 the service-pipe 38. The coupling 34 is also connected to the trap 39 at the lower end of pipe 40, also connected to service-pipe 38. Said coupling 34 is furthermore provided with a pipe 41, depending into a cup 42, which latter at all times contains sufiicient water to submerge the lower end of pipe 41, and thus form a seal which will prevent the escape of gas and at the same time permit of the escape of water produced by condensation of the gas in the service-pipes or in any other part of the apparatus, it being understood, of course, that trap 39 by containg water will compel the gas passing out through pipe 32 to pass through the meter on its way to the service-pipe instead of passing through pipe 40 to the service-pipe. For

the escape of gas generated in excess of the maximum volume which the generator should contain pipe 33, communicating with pipe 20 by way of couplin 23, leads up to and through the roof of the building containing the apparatus, as will be readily understood.

43 designates an endless pipe disposed horizontally in the body contiguous to the upper end of the conical bottom and provided with a plurality of jet-pipes 44, which extend downwardly and inwardly, so as to discharge water againstthe lower portion of the cone for the purpose of washing loose the carbid ashes which might otherwise cling thereto when it was desired to remove them. This endless pipe is coupled, as at 45, to the supply-pipe 46, said pipe being utilized when desired to conduct water into the generator.

The endless pipe 43 is connected by supporting-straps 47 to the body or may be other- I wise supported and forms the frame of the skeleton basket, the body of the basket being composed of a plurality of arms 48, which converge downward, so that the apex of the skeleton basket shall be vertically over the apex of the bottom, and therefore surround the stem 11 of valve 10, said valve being guided in its vertical movement by guidebracket 49, supported by the contiguous pipes 20 and 25 of each of the skeleton brace-frames hereinbefore described.

For conducting the carbid into the body of the generator I provide a stand-pipe 50, having its lower end pitched downwardly at a sharp angle and entering the body above the skeleton basket, the said pipe projecting a sufiicient distance into the body to insure the deposit of all the carbid in said basket, where its disintegration takes place as the gas generated ascends through the water into the bell and elevates the same. The upper end of the supply-pipe projects by preference above the flooring, as shown, and terminates in the flaring mouth 51, containing a frame 52, which projects above said flaring mouth for a purpose which hereinafter appears.

53 designates a pedestal formed with a ballrace 54 in its upper side, containing bearingballs 55, upon which is seated a horizontal wheel 56, provided with radial peripheral arms 57, having grooves 58 to receive the lateral flanges 60 of carbid-cups 59, vertically suspended by said flanges between said wheelarms or otherwise suitably supported. The lower end 61 of each carbid-cup is hinged, as at 62, at its front side with respect to the direction of rotation of the wheel, which is, as indicated by the arrow, Fig. 1, to the link or loop 63, and said link or loop is hinged at its upper end, as at 64, to the body of the cup. At its rear edge said end 61 is provided with a depending flange 65, against which a link 66 bears upwardly to hold the lower end of the ter, said link 66 being hinged. as at 67, to the loop 68, secured to the cup. The link 66 is pressed upwardly for the purpose mentioned by means of a catch 69, pivoted in a bracket 7 0, depending from cup-bottom 61, said catch having its upper edge angular, so as to provide a shoulder 71, normally engaging link 66, and the arm 72 to engage the top of the bracket. catch-stem is prevented from swinging. forward under pressure which the weight of the shoulder 71, and as a result there is no chance of the accidental discharge of the contents of the .cu p, which can only escape when the catch-arm is swung rearward by striking the the shoulder 71 as it swings upwardly and forwardly to spring the forward end of link 66 aside. As this is accomplished the catch clears the frame 52 and the weight of the By thus engaging the bracket the trip-arm 52 in its path, this action causing cup against its body portion to close the latcarbid in the cup causes link 66 to impose on ear-bid causes bottom 61 to swing downward on hinge 62 to about the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 7. The bottom of course carrice the catch back with it and forces link 66 to about the position also shown in dotted lines, said figure. The entire charge of the carbid in the cup drops into the flared mouth of the pipe 50 and is conducted thence intothe basket hereinbefore described, and as ashes it passes from the latter down onto the bottom of the body of the generator and accumulates above and around the valve, the accumulations being substantially uniform at all sides because the apices of the bottom and basket are dis posed with relation to the supplypipe as hereinbefore explained.

The wheel 56 is provided with a circular rib 7 3, projecting upwardly and provided at intervals corresponding to the distance between the centers of contiguous cups with notches 74, these notches being adapted to be successively engaged by the bifurcated gravity-dog 7 5, said dog being bifurcated in order that it may be seated astride on the rib to hold it reliably on the latter without regard to whether its tooth is in engagement with the rib-notch or not. This dog is pivotally attached to the lower end of the rock-lever 76, mounted on a depending ceiling-bracket 77, and said lever has a pin-and-slotconnection with a second lever,78, mounted on said bracket. Lever 78 is connected by the link 79 to the stem 80 of an inverted-T-shapd lever mounted on a ceiling-bracket 81. one of the arms of said lever being equipped with a Weight 82 and its other arm pivotally carrying a vertical rod 83, which extends sliding] y through aperture 18 of crossbar 17 and is provided with a collar 01' enlargement 84 at its lower end in order that when the gas-bell descends it shall, through the instrumentality of bar 17, operate said levers and connections from the position shown in dotted to the position shown in full lines, Fig. 2, the result being the dog 75, initially engaging one of the notches 74, turns the wheel in the direction indicated by the arrow, Fig. 1, a suflicient distance to swing the carbid-cup previously emptied past the mouth of the supply-pipe and the following cup over said supply-pipe, incidentally effecting the discharge of the contents of said cup into said pipe in a manner hereinafter explained.

As the carbid is discharged into the generator as described the generation of. gas begins and continues until the gas-making properties of the carb'id are exhausted.

cumulates under the partition 8 thereof, this partition being made to bulge to add stiffness and strength to the bell. The accumulation of the gas gradually raises the bell, and as it rises and carries with it bar 17 weight 82 returns the various levers and their connections (see Fig. 2) to their original positions,as shown by dotted lines, the dog obviously sliding rear- .lhe gas. rises through the water into the bell and ac- .33 to atmospln-are.

ward on the rib to the next notch. the wheel being held from back rotation by detent 821 suitably supported and engaging the successively-presented notches of the rib. After the return of the dog to its original position the bell continues to rise under the accuniulation of gas until it contains the required volume, and gas generated in excess of the predetermined volume raising the bell so high that aperture 85 in pipe 14 appears above the water-line of the generator to permit gas to pass through the same upward between said tube and tube 20,down through the last-named tube, and thence through coupling 23 and pipe It will thus be seen that it is possible to guard against the accumulation of gas to a dangerously-high pressure in the bell.

When the gas is turned on at any point in connection with the service-pipe, the gas from the bell passes through aperture 86 into pipe 13 and from the latter downthrough pipe 19, coupling 22, and pipe 32 to coupling 34 from the latter. Because of the water seal and trap it must pass up through pipe 35, through the meter 36, and from the latter through pipe 37 to the service-pipe, any condensation being cared for by the trap and seal, the excess water of course overflowing from the seal in the usual manner.

As the gas is consumed the bell gradually descends and eventually by the engagement of its cross-bar 17 with collar or enlargement 84 again operates the wheel and precipitates an other charge of carbid into the generator.

Assuming that the generator has been in operation for a period of time and that it is desirable to remove the carbid-ashes which have accumulated on the bottom, the operator introduces water into the body, so as to raise its level a suflicient distance to cause the float 12 to withdraw valve 10 from its seat. The water may be introduced by means of a hose, (not shovrn,) or it may be forced in through pipe 46 and discharged from the endless pipe 43 through jet-pipes 44, the latter directing it down upon the bottom of the generator in such a manner as to wash loose any ashes tending to adhere thereto. After the requisite volume of water has been introduced to accornplish the object desired it, with the floating carbid-ashes, is drawn out through the bottomof the generator and through pipe 3, the valve being automatically reseated as the water attains its normal level, by which time, of course, all of the ashes have been d awn out of the generator, and in this connection it should be stated that if the valve should from any cause fail to become reseated the pump will not lower the water below the level mentioned because the air drawn into pipe 3 through tube 87, connecting pipe 3 with the body of the generator, breaks the vacuum in pipe 3. Tube 87 is provided with a valve 88, adapted to be operated in any suitable man her so as to close communication between the body of the generator and pipe 3 when it is desired to pump all of the water out of the generator, though this, of course, will occur only at rare intervals.

In the operation of the generator precipitation of the carbid into the supply-pipe 50 ohviously standing charged with water to the same level as the generator would result in the instant generation of gas, which would escape upwardly from the supply-pipe. To prevent generation of gas in the supply-pipe, a suitable quantity of coal-oil is poured into the supply-pipe upon the water therein, as at 50. to, in effect, coat each charge of carbid with oil, and thus protect the carbid from the action of the water until a few seconds after it has entered the generator proper i. 6., until such coating is dissipated.

To place the charge of carbid into the cups, it is of course necessary to disengage the latter from the Wheel by sliding them outward and then inverting them to receive the charge. The movable end is then resecured in position through the medium of'the connections described and the cups resecured to the wheel.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced an acetylene-gasgenerating apparatus embodying the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of invention and which obviously may be modified in minor particulars without departing from the principle of construction involved.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an acetylene-gas apparatus, the combination of a generator having an inverted conical bottom open at its apex, a pipe communicating with said opening, a carbid-supply pipe communicating with the generator above the bottom, a skeleton basket within the generator and below said supply-pipe, a substantially circular pipe forming a part of said basket and provided with downwardlyconverging jet-pipes, a supply-pipe communicatingwith said circular pipe, a gas-bell, means actuated by the descent of the gas-bell to discharge carbid at intervals into the generator, and means for spraying water upon the carbid-ashes collecting therein below the basket.

2. In an acetylene-gas apparatus, the combination of a generator having an inverted conical bottom open at its apex, a pipe communicating with said opening, a carbid-supply pipe communicating with the generator above the bottom, a skeleton basket within the generator and below said supply-pipe, a substantially circular pipe forming a part of said basket and provided with downwardlyconverging jet-pipes, a supply-pipe communicating with said circular pipe, a valve-controlled pipe connecting the last-named pipe to the pipe connected to the apex of the generator, a gas-bell, means actuated by the descent of the gas-bell to discharge carbid at intervals into the generator, and means for spraying water upon the carbid-ashes collecting therein below the basket.

3. In an acetylene-gas apparatus, the combination of a generator, a suitable internal brace, couplings secured to said brace, vertical tubes secured at their lower ends to said couplings, and projecting upward to approximately the top of the generator and provided with internal ribs, an escape-pipe connected by a coupling to one of said tubes, 3. servicepipe in communication through the other coupling with the other tube, a gas-bell within the generator, vertical tubes closed at their upper ends and carried by said bell below and fitting telescopically upon the ribbed tubes, one of said gas-bell tubes having an aperture always above the water-line of the generator, and the other an aperture which attains a position above said water-line only when the bell is elevated its full distance, a cross-bar connecting the upper ends of the gas-bell tubes, a carbid-supply pipe communicating with the generator, a carbid-cup-carrying wheel above said pipe, means actuated by the cross-bar on the descent of the bell for rotating said wheel and disposing a cup over said supply-pipe, and means for opening said cup to effect the discharge of the carbid therein into the supply-pipe as said cup takes its position above said pipe.

4. In an acetylene-gas apparatus, the combination of a generator, having a supply-pipe and a bell, a wheel, and instrumentalities whereby each descent of the bell imparts a forward movement or step to the wheel, with carbid-cups carried by the wheel, and having their centers disposed apart a distance equal to each step or movement of the wheel, each cup having a bottom, a loop hinged to the bottom and to the body of the cup, a frame secured to the cup, a link hinged to the frame secured to the cup,,a bracket secured to the cup-bottom, a catch pivoted to said bracket and engaging said link and the bracket to hold the bottom against accidental opening,'and means for tripping said catch and permitting the contents of the cup to swing the bottom, the catch, and the link from below the cup to insure complete evacuation of the cup.

5. In an acetylene-gas apparatus, a generator having a conical bottom with its apex eccentric of its base, and a supply-pipe communicating with the body at the same side of its center as said apex, a pipe communicating with the body at the apex of its bottom, a valve closing communication between the body and said pipe, and a float connected with said valve to lift the same from its seat when the body contains an excess of water.

6. In an acetylene-gas apparatus, a generator having a conical bottom with its apex eecentric of its base, and a supply-pipe communicating with the body at the same sideoi its center as said apex, a pipe communicating with the body at the apex of its bottom, a valve closing communication between the body and said pipe and provided with a vertical stem, suitably guided for vertical move ment, and a float attached. to the upper end of said stem and adapted to rise and lift the valve from its seat when the body contains an excess of water, and to descend as the water Falls, to reseat the valve.

7. In an acetylene-gas apparatus, a generator, a central cross-coupling, pipes radiating therefrom, vertical cross-couplings on a pair of said pipes, a gas-escape pipe connected to one of said couplings and leading out of the generator, and a gas-conducting pipe connected to the other coupling and leading out of the generator, vertical brace-pipes depending from said last named couplings, and suitably supported, and vertical stand-pipes rising from said couplings, a gas-bell provided with vertical tubes having their upper ends closed and fitting telescopically on said stand-pipes, guide-ribs between said tubes and said stand-pipes to guide the bell in its vertical reciprocation without interfering with the passage of gas between said pipes and tubes, one of said tubes having an aperture normally submerged in the water of the body, and the other an aperture communicating with the interior of the bell above the normal water-level of the body in combination with a carbid-cupcarrying wheel, means whereby the descent of the gas-bell shall rotate said wheel, means for effecting the discharge of the carbid from the cup as the wheel movement ends, and means for conducting said carbid into said body.

8. In an acetylene-gas apparatus, a generator, having a conical bottom, open at its apex, a pipe communicating therewith, an endless pipe within the body provided with depending jet-pipes which are adapted to discharge water on the conical bottom contiguous to its apex, and a supply-pipe eoi'nl'nunicating with said endless pipe and extending through the wall of the generator.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WALLACE B. JONES.

\Vitnesses:

H. C. RODGERS, G. Y. 'lHoRPn. 

